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Summit Polymers · 2 days ago

Manufacturing Engineer (Molding)

Vicksburg, MI

Full-time

Onsite

Mid, Senior Level

5+ years exp

Summit Polymers is a leading global supplier of automotive interior systems. The Manufacturing Engineer (Molding) role involves hands-on technical work focusing on the injection molding of plastic parts, providing technical support to production teams, and ensuring operational excellence through various responsibilities related to mold processes and automation.

AutomotiveManufacturingTransportation

Responsibilities

Perform as key team member in developing molding tool & processes for new products:

Participate in part design input and output reviews

Focus on design optimization to produce highest quality parts via robust injection mold tooling conditions and mold processability considerations

Participate in injection mold design reviews

Focus on mold size, required press size, manifolds, valve gates, runners, gates, mold actions, cooling, ejection, parting lines, venting, engraving

Develop molding automation plan and tooling

Specifies End of Arm Tooling, degators, nesting, and other molding secondary equipment

Procures molding secondary equipment - performs design & construction or external sourcing as required

Participate in injection mold trials at sample facilities

Support master mold process development, mold critique, and corrective action plans for new injection molds

Champion introduction of molding tools and processes at SPI manufacturing plant

Collaborates with plant staff to ensure facilities and equipment required for new molds are in place – including hot manifold & valve gate controllers, gas-assist controllers, material drying hoppers, grinders, etc

Identify all issues with injection mold, molding secondary equipment, molding machine and auxiliary equipment and collaborate with program and plant teams to achieve resolution

Further develops robust injection molding process for plant specific molding machines based on master molding process

Implement molding automation including adjusting EOAT and degator, robot programming, and related interfaces to other press peripheral equipment

Document and “control” molding process setup sheets, process verification sheets, and robot programs

Develop Operator Instruction Sheets and support development of Quality Inspection Standards to ensure production personnel can work safely while meeting quality and productivity requirements

Coordinate entry of all molds, EOAT and degators into preventive maintenance system and develop preventive maintenance instructions

Collaborate with SLMS Engineer to develop internal mold store packaging that supports efficient labor and automation while ensuring safe & defect-free storage, transport and handling at subsequent operations based on SPI packaging standards and best practices

Perform mold specific setup and operational training for mold technicians, supervisors, utilities/operators and managers and oversee mold change, startups and production until safety and proficiency is achieved

Collaborate with project engineering to coordinate engineering changes to molds and molding secondary equipment

Support and continually improve all production molding operations:

Support the production team performance - improving safety, quality and efficiency

Utilize practical problem solving (PPS), kaizen and scientific molding methodologies

Troubleshoot tooling, process and equipment related problems through collaboration with tooling and maintenance teams

Collaborate with maintenance to assess molding machine capability

Lead cycle time, scrap, regrind, mold change time and purge reduction activities

Develop justifications for various process improvement projects

Conduct layered process audits to ensure compliance to process setup/verification, standardized work and quality systems requirements

Contribute to molding room safety

Cause safe operation and behavior by immediately reacting to correct unsafe conditions of molding systems including:

Molding machines, molds, cranes, side load carts, magnetic platens, robots, robot cages, conveyors, grinders, electrical panels, floor condition, overhead utility conditions, and other 5S or housekeeping conditions

Model safe behaviors in all aspects of job performance

Qualification

Scientific injection moldingMolding automationInjection mold designMicrosoft OfficeAnalytical skillsIndependent thinkingEffective communicationFlexibility

Required

Bachelor's degree in engineering or similar technical discipline OR 5 years of experience in a technical position in an injection molding environment may be considered

Scientific injection molding knowledge and hands on mold process development ability – Krauss Maffei and VanDorn molding machine experience preferred

Molding automation / EOAT knowledge and hands on molding robot programming ability – Wittmann robot experience preferred

Knowledge of a variety of molding technologies including gas-assist, sequential valve gate processing, applique insert molding, and two-shot / multi-material molding preferred

Knowledge of injection mold design with ability to read and critique drawings and contribute to ensuring high quality mold designs

Proficiency in Microsoft Office software suite – Excel, Word, PowerPoint

Effective verbal and written communication skills

Independent thinking with strong analytical and problem solving skills

Flexible and able to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously

Agreement to complete all post-hire required training

A minimum score of 50 on the Wonderlic Select Assessment (Traditional Score of 26 on the cognitive portion)

Preferred

Krauss Maffei and VanDorn molding machine experience

Wittmann robot experience

Knowledge of a variety of molding technologies including gas-assist, sequential valve gate processing, applique insert molding, and two-shot / multi-material molding